Two Rhode Island transplants have settled here in Northwest Florida on Escambia Bay. In Rhode Island, we spent most of our summers and fall days sailing the waters of Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound and Buzzards Bay. We are so delighted to have found another Bay to enjoy.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

DON'T GET YOUR HEAD WET

A characteristic of the normal child is he doesn't act that way very often.

~Author Unknown

There was a young couple walking on the beach with their little girl who looked to be about 3 or 4 years old. The mother kept telling her not to get her shoes wet, but, of course, little by little the young girl inched ever closer to the water. Mom kept warning and the tot kept inching. The outcome was inevitable. The child got too close to the water and an aggressive wave not only covered her shoes, but knocked her down onto her fanny. Her shoes were wet, her little shorts were wet and her t-shirt was wet. I waited for her to start crying but instead she sat there for a moment stunned and then she turned to look at her mom, who was hurrying to reach her, and said "oops" and then dissolved in giggles. It made me smile and want to sit down right next to her. Her mom and dad shook their heads and got her back on her now very wet feet. They had a hard time hiding their smiles and looking appropriately stern. Then the Dad said something we often said to my son, that made me smile even more. "You always have to learn the hard way." Oh, I think life is going to be interesting for this little family.